LSJ918 (Rice Creek)

Basin characterization

Location: latitude 29°41’17.767”, longitude 81°44’31.767”, GPS datum—WGS-1984 Station LSJ918 is located on Rice Creek at State Road 100.

Point sources: There are no wastewater treatment facilities within a five-mile radius or within the drainage basin of this water quality site.

The Rice Creek sampling site is located where State Road (SR) 100 crosses the creek, approximately 5 miles west of Palatka, Fla., in Putnam County in northeast Florida. The creek forms in wetlands south of SR 100 and makes an eastward turn after it crosses SR 100 toward the St. Johns River.

The Rice Creek Wildlife Management Area is located south of SR 100 and is abundant with all types of wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, Florida black bear, wild turkeys, and even bobcats. The wildlife management area offers opportunities for hiking and observing nature. The area is lightly populated as the creek heads toward the St. Johns River, with industrial interests, such as a paper mill, appearing near the mouth of the creek.

Quick links

All of the maps and charts shown below were created using a customized GIS data summary tool, with the watershed generated by Arc Hydro for this monitoring station. More information about Arc Hydro can be found by going to the Technical background page. From that page, a description of the customized GIS data summary tool can be accessed.

Spatial data summaries

2000 population density

Population data is collected by the Census Bureau every 10 years and is used to show the distribution of population in a number of ways. Population density has a direct impact on land use, which effects water quality in areas around or near water bodies. This map displays the 2000 population density per square kilometer within this surface water catchment. The legend shows the area for each class in square kilometers and the percentage of area in descending order. More complete metadata can be found by clicking on the metadata link for the 2000 population density.

General land use 2000

Land use, which is usually derived from aerial photography by photo interpreters, shows the distribution of land and how it is used. Land use affects the water quality of water bodies through water runoff within a surface water catchment. This map displays the distribution of eight categories of general land use within this surface water catchment. The legend shows the area for each category in square kilometers and the percentage of area in descending order. More complete metadata can be found by clicking on the metadata link for general land use 2000.

Geology

The geology of the state of Florida was delineated by the Florida Geological Survey. Water quality is impacted by the underlying geology of streams and lakes. This map displays the underlying geological formations within this surface water catchment. The legend shows the area for each type of formation in square kilometers and the percentage of area in descending order. More complete metadata can be found by clicking on the metadata link for geology.

Physiographic divisions

Physiography describes the earth’s exterior physical features. These are divided into general groups and then subgroups containing features such as uplands, hills, ridges, plains, valleys, karst, etc. Water quality is affected through water runoff by physiography. This map displays the more detailed physiographic subdistricts within this surface water catchment. The legend shows the area for each subdistrict in square kilometers and the percentage of area in descending order. More complete metadata can be found by clicking on the metadata link for physiographic divisions.

2004 rainfall

Rainfall data comes from radar imaging as well as rainfall gauge surveys. Rainfall affects water quality through runoff within the surface water drainage basins. This map displays the total daily rainfall in inches for each pixel for 2004 within each surface water catchment. The legend shows the area for each rainfall range in square kilometers and the percentage of area in descending order. More complete metadata can be found by clicking on the metadata link for 2004 rainfall.

St. Johns River Water Management District and other public lands

The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) purchases lands that are in environmentally sensitive areas to protect the water resources on, beneath or adjoining the property. Water quality is affected in water bodies adjacent to these protected lands. This map displays the lands owned, jointly owned, being considered for purchase, or lands through which SJRWMD has an easement. The legend shows the area of these lands in acres and the percentage of area in descending order. More complete metadata can be found by clicking on the metadata link for SJRWMD and public lands.

Soils drainage

Soils drainage characteristics can also impact surface water runoff, a source of nonpoint pollution for adjacent water bodies, which effects water quality. This map displays water bodies and soil drainage characteristics. The legend shows the area of these soils in square kilometers and the percentage of area in descending order. More complete metadata can be found by clicking on the metadata link for soils drainage.

5-foot elevation — DEM

Land elevation influences rainfall runoff, which effects the surface water quality, as water moves through the landscape to the rivers, streams, and lakes. This map with accompanying legend displays the maximum (MAX), minimum (MIN), range, standard deviation (STD) and mean of 5-foot elevations within the surface water drainage area (watershed). More complete metadata can be found by clicking on the metadata link for 5-foot elevation-DEM (Digital Elevation Model).

Recharge 1995

In some areas of SJRWMD, the Floridan aquifer is at or near land surface and is vulnerable to pollutants that threaten our drinking water supply. It is especially important to preserve surface water quality in these areas. This map displays recharge to the Floridan aquifer in inches per year (in/yr) within this surface water drainage catchment. Discharge, where the potentiometric surface is greater than the land surface elevation, is also shown. The area for each class is shown in square kilometers and the percentage of area in descending order. More complete metadata can be found by clicking on the metadata link for recharge 1995.

Arc Hydro model

The map below contains selected features from the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Arc Hydro geodatabase. The introduction of the SJRWMD Arc Hydro geodatabase made the creation of these fact pages possible, by providing improved geographic information system (GIS) data that has been combined into a GIS network. This hydrologically based network does for water resources what the commonly used mapping websites (such as MapBlast, MapQuest and GoogleMaps) have done for travel planning, except that instead of interstates, highways and roads, this hydrologic network shows streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands. Similar to transportation mapping sites, information about water resources has been related, or linked, to the GIS network and can be easily accessed. The legend to the right of the map includes the Arc Hydro network, Arc Hydro Polygon Feature Classes and HydroPoints. The features included in the Arc Hydro Network exist to establish relationships based on surface water flow. The lines (HydroEdges) may represent streams or rivers, which are commonly displayed as lines on maps. The lines may also represent, in a “shorthand” way, the concept of surface water flow through a lake or a wetland, which are not routinely displayed as lines. The features in the Arc Hydro Polygon Feature Classes and HydroPoints represent some of the water resources information that has been linked to the Arc Hydro GIS network. HDS in the map legend below refers to the district’s Water Resource Information program and NWIS refers to the National Water Information System, which is part of the United States Geological Survey (USGS). See Technical Background for a more detailed explanation of the SJRWMD Arc Hydro technology and its features.

Water quality

Rice Creek is located in central Putnam County and it drains the Rice Creek Swamp. The site is sampled monthly, under contract with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), at the SR 100 bridge. The creek is about 0.9 meters deep at the sample site and has a typical temperature range. When compared to other stream sites, conductivity and major ion concentrations are low, resulting in soft water. The median dissolved oxygen concentration is slightly elevated for a district stream. The water has fair buffering capacity and a neutral pH. Color is elevated. Total suspended solids, total organic carbon, turbidity and Secchi depth are typical, although total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll concentrations are lower. Coliform counts are typical. The creek has good water quality at the site, according to the water quality index.